PIRINvolve is a 5 month, fully funded European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering project run by Zarika Association in the mountain town of Bansko, Bulgaria, from 3 November 2026 to 2 April 2027 (151 days of project activity plus 2 travel days). The organisation is looking for four passionate young people aged 18 to 30 to join its team, turn their ideas into action, build real life skills and make a meaningful difference in the local community.
About Zarika Association
Zarika Association is where ideas turn into experiences, connections and action. It creates opportunities for young people to discover what they are capable of, meet inspiring people, build real life skills and make a difference, both in their own lives and in their communities. From creative workshops and international projects to volunteering, entrepreneurship, sustainability and personal development, Zarika designs experiences that help you grow, explore, connect and take initiative. The team believes in a world with less apathy and more empathy, where people do not just wait for change but become part of it.
Life in Bansko
Bansko is more than mountains and ski slopes. It is a lively mix of nature, local culture, international people, creativity and community life, where there is always something new to discover. Volunteering here means becoming part of that mix: meeting people from around the world, creating things that matter locally, and turning a small mountain town into your own place for adventure, connection and growth.
What You'll Do
As a volunteer you will not just follow a schedule, you will help shape it. Your daily life will involve a wide range of activities:
🎨 Organise workshops, campaigns and community events on entrepreneurship, arts and culture, active citizenship and global education.
🏫 Deliver non formal educational activities in schools, youth spaces and social service settings.
🌍 Support youth participation, volunteering initiatives and international projects.
🎙️ Create episodes for the Zarika Podcast, along with social media content, educational materials and awareness campaigns.
🎪 Take part in community actions, cultural and environmental initiatives, and represent Zarika at different forums and fairs in Bulgaria.
💡 Develop and implement your own ideas, workshops and local initiatives in Bansko.
🌱 Promote sustainable lifestyles, environmental awareness and green practices, while working in an international team and meeting young people from different cultures.
The Bigger Goals Behind the Project
PIRINvolve is built around a clear social mission. The project focuses on:
📚 Expanding learning and development opportunities for young people from small towns and rural areas.
🤝 Encouraging inclusion, solidarity and active citizenship.
🌐 Building sustainable organisational and partnership capacity for lasting social impact.
What's Covered
This project is fully funded by the European Solidarity Corps, meaning your essential costs are covered:
🏠 Accommodation in a twin room in a shared volunteer house in Bansko, shared with another volunteer of the same gender, with full access to a kitchen, bathrooms and common areas.
💶 Food and pocket money of 300 EUR per month.
✈️ Travel expenses from your home country to Bansko and back, reimbursed within the EU distance calculator limit for your country.
🛂 Visa fees where applicable, covered up to 200 EUR per person, with an official invitation letter provided by Zarika.
🩺 Health insurance for international volunteers through the Henner system.
💰 Not sure what "fully funded" really means for an ESC placement? This guide breaks down exactly what is and isn't covered: Is ESC Volunteering Fully Funded? What Is Covered → https://youthworkshub.org/is-esc-fully-funded
Practical Arrangements
During your voluntary service you are provided with accommodation in a shared house with other volunteers and a monthly allowance for your living expenses (international volunteers only). The monthly allowance is 300 EUR. In addition, Zarika covers travel and accommodation for activities outside Bansko, and additional food expenses when volunteers are engaged in international activities.
Travel expenses from your home country to Bansko and back are reimbursed once you arrive in Bansko, within the limit that the European Union has calculated for participants from your country, based on presented original tickets and boarding passes. If applicable, visa fees are covered up to 200 EUR per person; you apply for the visa at the Bulgarian Embassy in your country and need enough time to receive it before arriving (the procedure may take around 1 month), with an official invitation letter provided for this purpose. You are covered by health insurance through the Henner system, which works at European level for all volunteers, and you should inform the team in advance of any medical conditions or special needs.
🩺 Wondering how health cover works while you volunteer abroad? Here's how the Henner system protects ESC volunteers: Insurance for ESC Volunteers (Henner) → https://youthworkshub.org/esc-insurance
The House
Volunteers are housed in a shared house in Bansko, along with up to 3 other ESC volunteers. Each person shares a room with another person of the same gender and has shared access to the kitchen, bathrooms and common areas.
What You'll Gain
Dedicating 5 months to PIRINvolve is a chance to grow personally and professionally, gaining a diverse set of skills, hands on training and official European recognition:
🧩 Real world NGO experience: practical experience navigating diverse working environments and professional office work in the context of an active NGO.
💪 A powerhouse of transferable skills: teamwork, communication, cooperation in intercultural environments, digital skills, taking initiative, adaptability, flexibility and problem solving.
🗣️ Daily English practice: because English is the main working language, you naturally practise and refine your English every day.
🎓 Official ESC training: on arrival training and/or mid term training organised by the Bulgarian National Agency that manages the European Solidarity Corps, a great chance to meet and share experiences with other international volunteers based in Bulgaria (schedule and organisation depend on the NA).
🧑🏫 A dedicated local mentor: a young local person who meets with you regularly to make sure your needs are discussed and, hopefully, met.
🇧🇬 Free language lessons: international volunteers can learn Bulgarian through free online courses.
🏔️ The Bansko lifestyle: fully experience life in a multicultural town with strong local traditions and amazing nature.
📜 YouthPass certificate: at the end of the 5 month project you receive an official YouthPass certificate, formal proof of the non formal learning outcomes, skills and knowledge you gained during your service.
🏔️ Craving mountains and the outdoors? Here's another ESC placement in the Alps worth a look: ESC Volunteering in 🇸🇮 Slovenia: Volunteer Nature Ranger in the Julian Alps → https://youthworkshub.org/21504
Who Can Apply
The project welcomes young people aged 18 to 30 who are legally residing in one of the ESC Programme Countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Norway.
Beyond age and residence, Zarika is looking for people who are:
✨ Interested in non formal education, creating workshops and organising activities for young people and the local community.
🤲 Keen on gaining experience in youth and social work.
💬 Able to communicate in English.
🎨 Willing to be creative and engaged in Zarika's activities.
🚀 Eager to take initiative and work in a multicultural team.
📱 Willing to create content and manage social media.
🌟 Passionate and willing to learn and promote European opportunities, and ready to take responsibility.
🌍 Drawn to youth work with an international feel? Take a look at this ESC Volunteering in 🇫🇷 France: Socio Cultural Youth Work and European Awareness → https://youthworkshub.org/20267
How to Apply
Applying takes two steps: first, carefully read the full PIRINvolve infopack to understand the living arrangements and project expectations; then submit the official online application form. Applications sent by email are not considered.
Deadline
⏳ 07 September 2026
Links
📝 Application form: https://tally.so/r/ODxBBM
📄 Infopack: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHSu8INcAg/QmbfD-ij1QRY0UWzYnh2tg/view
🌐 Official page: https://zarika.org/en/open-call-esc-volunteering-pirinvolve-bansko-bulgaria/
📧 Questions: esc@zarika.org
⚠️ Important Notice
Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.
